Fifty years ago, my parents carried me across the border as a one-year-old. A stranger’s kindness on a highway changed everything. On America’s 250th birthday, this is a story of belonging, gratitude, and what it means to become American.
Tag Archives: american dream
Robert Larios – CEO Bio
At one year old, my parents carried me across the Mexican American border with nothing but hope and the clothes on their backs. I grew up the son of farmworkers on an avocado and citrus farm in Southern California and eventually became President and CEO of one of the nation’s largest public sector employee associations. This is the story of how a Mexican immigrant and first generation American turned struggle into strength and rose from the fields to the CEO seat.Along the way, I share lessons on resilience, leadership, faith and the power of education that speak to immigrants, founders and leaders everywhere.
They Died for Someone They Didn’t Know. That Someone was Me. And for Many of You.
On Memorial Day, Robert Larios, President and CEO of the Employees Club of California and son of Mexican immigrants, reflects on the known and unknown American war dead who sacrificed everything for a country he was still trying to become a legal part of. Drawing from a deeply personal visit to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Larios weaves together the stories of those who shaped his American journey… a World War II Purple Heart veteran, a submarine sailor turned mentor, and the nameless soldiers whose marble headstones read “known but to God.” A meditation on remembrance, gratitude, and grief from one of California’s most distinctive voices on service, sacrifice, and the immigrant American experience.
The President Who Gave My Family a Chance: Ronald Reagan, Immigration, and the American Dream
A President’s Day Reflection Today is President’s Day, and while most people are enjoying a three-day weekend, I’m thinking about a president who changed my life forever. Not through a tweet, a press conference, or a political slogan. But through an act of moral courage that gave millions of people—including me and my parents—the chance …
A Moment of Pride & Gratitude: 23 Years as an American Citizen
Twenty three years ago, I remember the feeling of elation and certainty that came with becoming a Citizen of the United States. As I repeated each word after the judge, taking my oath to become an American Citizen, I felt like all my life up until this moment had been leading me here. As I …
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From Traversing a Border to Living the American Dream
As a 1 1/2 year old, I was carried in my parents’ arms as we crossed the treacherous Mexican-American border. Despite the dangers and risks, my parents were determined to provide me with a better life. However, their journey was not without challenges. They narrowly escaped being caught by Border Patrol agents, but their determination …
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Lessons Learned from 25 Years at the Employees Club of California
Robert Larios, circa 1998
Remembering the legacy of César Chávez
In California we commemorate the enduring legacy of César Chávez, whose unwavering advocacy for fair and just treatment of farm workers continues to inspire generations. It is a day to remember those whose lives were directly touched by his profound work, like my Dad Rafael Larios, who has been working tirelessly in the fields for …
Thanksgiving Is A Time To Give Thanks For All The People Who Have Helped Us Grow
Happy Thanksgiving Day! It’s a special day like today that I hope for all people that they have a wonderful day full of love, laughter, and good food. This is certainly a time to be thankful for all that we have in our lives. But it’s also a time to celebrate who we are and …
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Stay Motivated When Others Try To Bring You Down
In 1989, I was elated when I received the American Legion Award at my 8th grade graduation at Pauma School. It was a great honor to be recognized for my academic achievements, especially after spending the year before recovering from scoliosis surgery, and despite that it would be a decade before I would be sworn …
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Robert Larios 